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Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility. Provides that, prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception application, or special use permit for the siting of a new high energy use facility (HEUF), as defined in the bill, a locality shall require that an applicant perform and submit a site assessment to examine the sound profile of the HEUF on residential units and schools located within 500 feet of the HEUF property boundary. The bill also allows a locality to require that a site assessment examine the effect of the proposed facility on (i) ground and surface water resources, (ii) agricultural resources, (iii) parks, (iv) registered historic sites, and (v) forestland on the HEUF site or immediately contiguous land. The provisions of the bill shall not apply to a site with an existing legislative or administrative approval where an applicant is seeking an expansion or modification of an already existing or approved facility and such expansion does not exceed an additional 100 megawatts or more of electrical power. Finally, the bill provides that its provisions shall not be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority. This bill incorporates HB 511.
Introduced
Jan 6, 2026
Last Action
Mar 14, 2026
Session
VA 2026
Sponsors
1 primary · 9 co
Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A)
Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 2-N 0-A)
Conference Report released
Conferees appointed by Senate
House Conferees: Thomas, Convirs-Fowler, Wyatt
Conferees appointed by House
House acceded to request
Senate requested conference committee
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 98-N 0-A)
Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate insisted on substitute
Senate Conferees: Roem, Srinivasan, Stanley
Local Government Substitute agreed to
Passed Senate with substitute (26-Y 14-N 0-A)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Read third time
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)
Committee substitute printed 26108996D-S1
Reported from Local Government with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House (90-Y 7-N 0-A)
Read second time
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
committee substitute agreed to
Read first time
Incorporates HB511 (McAuliff)
Committee substitute printed 26105995D-H1
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (17-Y 2-N)
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/14/2026 12:13 pm)
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101337D
Get a plain-English explanation of what this bill does, who it affects, and why it matters.
Conference report agreed to by Senate (29-Y 10-N 0-A)
Joshua E. Thomas
Elizabeth R. Guzman
Dan I. Helmer
John Chilton McAuliff
David A. Reid
Betsy B. Carr
Atoosa R. Reaser
JJ Singh